Well, we made it through another summer season! flipping through a stack of 2011 summer issues of Letters from CAMP Rehoboth, I’m reminded of how busy the summer was—and how swiftly we move into the autumn season. As I write these words, the day is the tenth anniversary of 9-11, and I am also conscious of how swiftly the time has passed since that terrible day when we all stood, horrified, in front of our televisions watching the twin towers crashing to the ground. As individuals and as a nation, we have all been changed by the events of that day. In his CAMPmatters column, Murray writes about the “Rise and Fall and Rise” of the World Trade Center site; in Viewpoint, Milt Gordon tells of his experiences in NYC on that day.
I can’t end the summer without a huge word of thanks to all who worked to make Sundance 2011 another “wonderful, glorious, amazing” way to celebrate the big Labor Day Weekend. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure what to expect: with Irene closing the city down the weekend before Labor Day, and even an earthquake and tornado to contend with, the weekend could have been a disaster. Fortunately, Rehoboth survived all that Mother Nature could manage to throw at us, and in the end, beautiful weather prevailed. Sundance could not happen without the hundreds of sponsors, supporters, hosts, auction donors, volunteers, and team captains who made it possible for us to clear over $100,000. Thank you all!
An exciting announcement about Sundance: next year will be the 25th anniversary Sundance, and we plan to spend the year making it the most fantastic Sundance ever. Our goal is to sign up everyone who has ever been a host, supporter, or sponsor. We are also adding new team captain categories, so anyone interested in working on live auction packages, or any other part of the Silver Sundance, should contact me at CAMP Rehoboth.
One sour note at this year’s Sundance: for the first time in the 24 years we’ve been doing the Sundance event, the purchaser of one of the live auction items refused to pay for it at the end of night. The item, which sold for $6,000, was an incredible Civil Union Package that included: the services of the event planning company Flair (Chris Beagle and Eric Engelhart); an engagement photo by Carolyn Watson Photography; an invitation design by Mary Beth Ramsey of MB Ramsey Art and Design; a wedding cake by Charles Woods at Splendid Layers; a balloon arrangement from Bed of Roses; wedding bands from Elegant Slumming; hors d’oeuvres; a case of sparkling wine; a DJ; the big hall at the CAMP Rehoboth Community Center; and Delaware State Representative Pete Schwartzkopf to officiate at the ceremony. We are asking for sealed bids on this amazing package. See page 7 for details, or call the CAMP Rehoboth office for information.
All around the world, HIV and AIDS continue to destroy lives. there are ways we can all help, and one of them is to walk, or to support others who are walking, in the 2011 AIDS Walk Delaware. Here in Rehoboth Beach, the walk begins at Grove Park (registration at 9 a.m.; walk at 10 a.m.) on October 8. In Wilmington, the walk takes place at Dravo Plaza on October 1 at 9 a.m., and in Dover at Legislative Mall on October 15, at 9 a.m. Register online, call 302-652-6776, or visit the AIDS Walk Delaware Facebook page. To join the CAMP Rehoboth team, contact Sal Seeley at CAMP Rehoboth.
If you haven’t met our new administrative assistant, stop by CAMP Rehoboth and introduce yourself to Mitch Melton. For his first two weeks on the job, he faced a Letters from CAMP Rehoboth deadline, a hurricane, and Sundance! And he survived! Good luck Mitch.